I m always depressed

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

Solr Mobile Search

Share Buttons

Your browser is not supported

Switch to Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari

Misusing alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can have both immediate and long-term health effects.

The misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and prescription medications affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans. NSDUH estimates allow researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the general public to better understand and improve the nation’s behavioral health. These reports and detailed tables present estimates from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

Alcohol

Data:

Among the 133.1 million current alcohol users aged 12 or older in 2021, 60.0 million people (or 45.1%) were past month binge drinkers. The percentage of people who were past month binge drinkers was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (29. 2% or 9.8 million people), followed by adults aged 26 or older (22.4% or 49.3 million people), then by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (3.8% or 995,000 people). (2021 NSDUH)
Among people aged 12 to 20 in 2021, 15.1% (or 5.9 million people) were past month alcohol users. Estimates of binge alcohol use and heavy alcohol use in the past month among underage people were 8.3% (or 3.2 million people) and 1.6% (or 613,000 people), respectively. (2021 NSDUH)
In 2020, 50.0% of people aged 12 or older (or 138.5 million people) used alcohol in the past month (i.e., current alcohol users) (2020 NSDUH)
Among the 138.5 million people who were current alcohol users, 61.6 million people (or 44.4%) were classified as binge drinkers and 17.7 million people (28.8% of current binge drinkers and 12.8% of current alcohol users) were classified as heavy drinkers (2020 NSDUH)
The percentage of people who were past month binge alcohol users was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (31. 4%) compared with 22.9% of adults aged 26 or older and 4.1% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (2020 NSDUH)
Excessive alcohol use can increase a person’s risk of stroke, liver cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, cancer, and other serious health conditions
Excessive alcohol use can also lead to risk-taking behavior, including driving while impaired. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver daily

Programs/Initiatives:

STOP Underage Drinking interagency portal - Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking
Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking
Talk. They Hear You.
Underage Drinking: Myths vs. Facts
Talking with your College-Bound Young Adult About Alcohol

Relevant links:

National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
Department of Transportation Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance
Alcohol Policy Information Systems Database (APIS)

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Tobacco

Data:

In 2020, 20. 7% of people aged 12 or older (or 57.3 million people) used nicotine products (i.e., used tobacco products or vaped nicotine) in the past month (2020 NSDUH)
Among past month users of nicotine products, nearly two thirds of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (63.1%) vaped nicotine but did not use tobacco products. In contrast, 88.9% of past month nicotine product users aged 26 or older used only tobacco products (2020 NSDUH)
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, often leading to lung cancer, respiratory disorders, heart disease, stroke, and other serious illnesses. The CDC reports that cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States
The CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health reports that more than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking cigarettes

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use data:

In 2021, 13.2 million people aged 12 or older (or 4.7%) used an e-cigarette or other vaping device to vape nicotine in the past month. The percentage of people who vaped nicotine was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (14.1% or 4.7 million people), followed by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (5.2% or 1.4 million people), then by adults aged 26 or older (3.2% or 7.1 million people).
Among people aged 12 to 20 in 2021, 11.0% (or 4.3 million people) used tobacco products or used an e-cigarette or other vaping device to vape nicotine in the past month. Among people in this age group, 8.1% (or 3.1 million people) vaped nicotine, 5.4% (or 2.1 million people) used tobacco products, and 3.4% (or 1.3 million people) smoked cigarettes in the past month. (2021 NSDUH)
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Among both middle and high school students, current use of e-cigarettes declined from 2019 to 2020, reversing previous trends and returning current e-cigarette use to levels similar to those observed in 2018
E-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, or pregnant women, especially because they contain nicotine and other chemicals

Resources:

Tips for Teens: Tobacco
Tips for Teens: E-cigarettes
Implementing Tobacco Cessation Programs in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Settings
Synar Amendment Program

Links:

Truth Initiative
FDA Center for Tobacco Products
CDC Office on Smoking and Health
National Institute on Drug Abuse: Tobacco, Nicotine, and E-Cigarettes
National Institute on Drug Abuse: E-Cigarettes

Opioids

Data:

Among people aged 12 or older in 2021, 3. 3% (or 9.2 million people) misused opioids (heroin or prescription pain relievers) in the past year. Among the 9.2 million people who misused opioids in the past year, 8.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers compared with 1.1 million people who used heroin. These numbers include 574,000 people who both misused prescription pain relievers and used heroin in the past year. (2021 NSDUH)
Among people aged 12 or older in 2020, 3.4% (or 9.5 million people) misused opioids in the past year. Among the 9.5 million people who misused opioids in the past year, 9.3 million people misused prescription pain relievers and 902,000 people used heroin (2020 NSDUH)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Understanding the Epidemic, an average of 128 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose

Resources:

Medications for Substance Use Disorders
Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit
TIP 63: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
Use of Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Criminal Justice Settings
Opioid Use Disorder and Pregnancy
Clinical Guidance for Treating Pregnant and Parenting Women With Opioid Use Disorder and Their Infants
The Facts about Buprenorphine for Treatment of Opioid Addiction
Pregnancy Planning for Women Being Treated for Opioid Use Disorder
Tips for Teens: Opioids
Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Grants
Tribal Opioid Response Grants
Provider’s Clinical Support System - Medication Assisted Treatment Grant Program

Links:

National Institute on Drug Abuse: Opioids
National Institute on Drug Abuse: Heroin
HHS Prevent Opioid Abuse
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network
Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network

Marijuana

Data:

In 2021, marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug, with 18. 7% of people aged 12 or older (or 52.5 million people) using it in the past year. The percentage was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (35.4% or 11.8 million people), followed by adults aged 26 or older (17.2% or 37.9 million people), then by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (10.5% or 2.7 million people).
The percentage of people who used marijuana in the past year was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (34.5%) compared with 16.3% of adults aged 26 or older and 10.1% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (2020 NSDUH)
Marijuana can impair judgment and distort perception in the short term and can lead to memory impairment in the long term
Marijuana can have significant health effects on youth and pregnant women.

Resources:

Know the Risks of Marijuana
Marijuana and Pregnancy
Tips for Teens: Marijuana

Relevant links:

National Institute on Drug Abuse: Marijuana
Addiction Technology Transfer Centers on Marijuana
CDC Marijuana and Public Health

Emerging Trends in Substance Misuse:

Methamphetamine—In 2019, NSDUH data show that approximately 2 million people used methamphetamine in the past year. Approximately 1 million people had a methamphetamine use disorder, which was higher than the percentage in 2016, but similar to the percentages in 2015 and 2018. The National Institute on Drug Abuse Data shows that overdose death rates involving methamphetamine have quadrupled from 2011 to 2017. Frequent meth use is associated with mood disturbances, hallucinations, and paranoia.
Cocaine—In 2019, NSDUH data show an estimated 5.5 million people aged 12 or older were past users of cocaine, including about 778,000 users of crack. The CDC reports that overdose deaths involving have increased by one-third from 2016 to 2017. In the short term, cocaine use can result in increased blood pressure, restlessness, and irritability. In the long term, severe medical complications of cocaine use include heart attacks, seizures, and abdominal pain.
Kratom—In 2019, NSDUH data show that about 825,000 people had used Kratom in the past month. Kratom is a tropical plant that grows naturally in Southeast Asia with leaves that can have psychotropic effects by affecting opioid brain receptors. It is currently unregulated and has risk of abuse and dependence. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that health effects of Kratom can include nausea, itching, seizures, and hallucinations.

Resources:

Tips for Teens: Methamphetamine
Tips for Teens: Cocaine
National Institute on Drug Abuse

More SAMHSA publications on substance use prevention and treatment.

Last Updated

Last Updated: 03/22/2023

Anyone Else Feel Like They'll Be Depressed and Anxious Forever?

Medically reviewed by Adithya Cattamanchi, M.D., Pulmonology — By Hope Gillette — Updated on Jul 31, 2021

Depression can diminish the things that bring us joy, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. We can regain ground and get stronger.

We strive to share insights based on diverse experiences without stigma or shame. This is a powerful voice.

If you’re like me, living with depression feels a lot like drowning. Some invisible weight, created by a thousand different thoughts and anxieties, is always working to drag you down.

I get tired — tired of the constant battle. And when I want to rest, it seems there’s no rest to be found. It’s easy for me to convince myself it’s normal. I can’t escape it, so I tell myself I have to live with it.

During a depressive episode, I feel “stuck.” I’m in the grip of anxiety and fear before I even know what’s happening.

It’s what makes these conditions so insidiously dangerous. I know something isn’t right, but I can’t find the will to do anything about it. When I realize it’s depression with an undercurrent of anxiety, I’m already in the middle of that ocean.

I’m treading water, and depression whispers, “Everything’s fine!” It wants me to stay put.

But I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to stay stuck. I’ve fought depression head-on and I’ve won.

One of the most important things I know about depression is it deceives us into believing we’re alone. We start to feel misunderstood, isolated, and unloved by those around us and by ourselves.

Depression lies. I’m not sinking in an empty ocean. More than 17 million adults in the United States live with depression. That’s equivalent to the entire population of the Netherlands! I’m not alone. In fact, I’m in good company.

Just because depression isn’t always visible doesn’t mean it’s not there. I know neighbors, friends, and family members who share what it feels like to be immersed in negative thoughts and emotions.

A good bookmark

Want to reconnect with your inner circle and learn what a “circle of influence” is? Read this.

Was this helpful?

When I’m depressed, I work desperately to hide my anxiety and to put on a happy face. I don’t want anyone to know, and in those moments, I don’t think anyone would understand.

I’m afraid I will be judged or considered weak.

No one else could possibly be going through what I’m going through, right?

When depression tells us no one understands or cares, don’t listen. People do know. Many people do understand and are on the same journey.

Waking up one morning and realizing your depression has magically disappeared isn’t likely to happen. I desperately want it to work like that, believe me. I’ve laid in bed for hours, staring at my ceiling. I’ve slept more than I’ve been awake because sleeping is the only full escape I have.

My depression is never gone when I wake up.

Depression is a formidable foe, and like all adversaries, I can’t avoid it. I have to find the strength to stand against it.

We don’t have to feel this way

Learning I wasn’t alone in my depression was the first step in a long process of discovery. The second revelation I had was that I didn’t have to feel that way.

I don’t have to be stuck. I don’t have to feel consumed by despair or indifference.

I can feel better.

There’s nothing stopping me other than the voice in my head telling me that it’s pointless to try. Once I realize I don’t have to feel bad all the time, I can start actively looking down that road of recovery.

We can find small victories

The desire to make an effort to ward off depression is important. I know when it’s time for a change. At that point, I’m ready to argue back against depression’s whispers.

Learning to say “no” in life can preserve our mental health and save our personal bandwidth in many ways. It establishes healthy boundaries and helps us develop respect and expectations among our peers.

It also saves me from myself.

A good bookmark

Was this helpful?

I’m going to go take that walk. I’m going to get up and take a shower, even when the weight of depression is so heavy I can barely move my feet.

And guess what? I feel the success of that small victory like a burst of sunlight in the darkness. I did it. I got up and took that shower. I went for that walk. I brushed my hair today.

Depression said I couldn’t, but I did it anyway, and I know I’m unstoppable.

We can be kind to ourselves

Depression likes to turn us against ourselves. Who knows our weaknesses better than we do?

Those thoughts of not being good enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, get brought to the surface by depression. What’s worse, we start to agree with those thoughts.

We begin to accept those thoughts as truth. If we feel that way about ourselves, of course everyone else must feel that way too, right?

As my awareness of depression’s influence grew, I started to regain my ability to be kind to myself.

It often means more than positive words in the mirror. I write down my positive thoughts in a journal, and I try to practice consciously reframing negative thinking.

When depression says “you’re not good at anything,” I remember that ability to argue back. I’m good at many things. I have so many positive traits — we all do!

We are not our thoughts. Studies show acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) help to defuse those negative thoughts and lies that invade our personal space.

Depression doesn’t get to tell us we aren’t good enough. We know we’re unique, and we’re the ones in command — not depression.

We can cultivate honesty

Depression tricks me into hating myself, but it also manipulates how I feel about the world.

When doubts about loved ones creep in, I take a moment and ask myself if I honestly believe they would want anything other than what was best for me.

When depression is pulling me under, trying to drown me, it’s whispering that those around me don’t want to help.

Deep down, I know this isn’t true. Our loved ones want us to be happy, healthy, and successful. Many of them would sacrifice for us to have the best of the best.

A good bookmark

Was this helpful?

By taking those small moments of reflection, I can see the lies of depression clearly.

It may be time to make some changes

As much as depression is an internal war, like any battle, the landscape in which we fight matters.

When I look at the things and people around me, I ask myself if they’re contributing to my feelings of depression. This can be a very emotional process. The last thing I want to do is ride the anxiety of change and drift toward the unknown.

Sometimes, however, this is the only way.

A good bookmark

Here’s what to do when work is depressing.

You might want to check out how your environment may contribute to your depression.

Was this helpful?

Research confirms that our environment matters in major depressive disorder.

Is someone bullying us? Are we feeling safe? Do we absolutely dread going to our job every day? Maybe the place where we live has no green space or sunlight.

We can have a say in many of the things around us. Remember the powerful quote from Mark Batterson: “You are only one defining decision away from a totally different life!”

I don’t have to stay in places and situations that contribute to depression and anxiety. Change may be difficult. It may take time.

But I can change my life in a single moment.

Find our comrades

Remember when I learned I wasn’t alone? Millions of other people are out there, in this exact moment, sharing this experience with me.

We don’t need to cope with depression alone. We can find opportunities to share our hopes and our struggles with people who understand. We can learn from them, and they may learn from us.

A good bookmark

Was this helpful?

Depression is always going to tell me I can’t do this. It’s always going to tell me that everyone is judging me or that I won’t gain anything from the experience.

I know this isn’t true. Depression lies to me, so I’m working to maintain the skills I need to be able to ignore those whispers of deceit.

The types of depressive disorder out there do much more than make us feel sad. They make us see the world through a filter that colors every aspect of our lives.

We can start pushing back against depression in small ways. When we feel like we’re about to be pulled under those waves of dismay, remember the lessons I’ve shared:

I’m not alone.

I don’t have to feel this way.

I can tell depression “no.”

I can be kind to myself.

I can be honest about my thoughts.

I can make changes to my situation.

I can find help and help others.

Sometimes, on this journey, we may need a little extra support. That help can come in the form of professional guidance, or it may involve medications.

When we’re taking steps to improve our lives, we have nothing to be ashamed of. We’re looking every day to be the best we can be, and that is incredibly brave and admirable.

I know what it’s like to be lost in that dark place, hounded by anxiety and doubt — and apathy. I’ve been there, standing in the shower for 3 hours because I had the will to get in, but not to get back out.

I’m here to tell you that I’m OK! I work hard every day to be content and to find joy, but I’m doing it. And when depression decides to visit me again, because I know it’s never too far away, I can stand tall and know that I’ve gotten through its sea of emptiness once, and I will do it again.

Remember, if the weight of depression is too much to bear, or suicidal thoughts are creeping in, there is always somewhere to turn.

A good bookmark

Here’s every resource you need in one spot for depression help.

Was this helpful?

Hope Gillette is a freelance writer and published novelist. She’s passionate about providing accurate, empathetic mental health content for readers, and believes writing can help combat stigma and improve wellness outcomes. Hope’s early career focused on health disparities affecting marginalized groups, and she remains a firm advocate for health equity.

If nothing pleases: let's talk about depression

Depression . Surely, in the modern world, this word is known to almost everyone - both a child and an adult. It has become so popular that people often refer to any deterioration in mood as depression. Quite often, we can hear from relatives, acquaintances or colleagues: “I was depressed all evening yesterday” or “Again, the boss filled up with work, now I will be depressed all week,” etc. Against this background, the true meaning of depression is depreciated, and for many people in our time it is associated with something insignificant, ordinary, with a person’s desire to “cry” and “wine”.

At the same time, people who really suffer from depression do not admit that they are sick and do not want to voice their problems, so as not to be known as “whiners” and “weaklings”. But even if a person with depression decides to talk about his problems, as a rule, he hears in response: “Pull yourself together!”, “Look how beautiful life is! How can you be depressed?”, “You should be ashamed, others have problems, and nothing, they live!”, he is offered to “cheer up”, “shake up”, “move” and “change the scenery”. Meanwhile, such advice does not help a person suffering from depression in any way, they only make him once again feel like an “egoist” and “pessimist” and reject even the thought of visiting a doctor.

What is depression? Is it a disease? How to distinguish depression from a banal bad mood? And is it really possible to “pull yourself together” and overcome this unpleasant state on your own? Today in our article we will deal with these difficult questions. The doctor of the highest qualification category, candidate of medical sciences, psychiatrist and psychotherapist of the Clinic "SMITRA" Koridze-Datunishvili Manana Nodaryevna will help us in this.

What is depression?

Of course, this is a real disease, registered in the International Classification of Diseases. Depression belongs to the group of affective disorders, in other words, mood disorders. But, of course, this is not the mood disorder that occurs, for example, after a car breakdown or a deuce in an exam.

Depressive disorder is characterized by several factors. First, depression is a long-term, persistent (lasting more than 2 weeks) condition. Secondly, in addition to a decrease in mood, a depressed patient has a significant drop in activity and a decrease in energy. Thirdly, when a patient is depressed, the pace of thinking changes, more often in the direction of slowing down.

A person suffering from depression begins to look at the world pessimistically, loses the ability to experience joy, his judgments become negative, the future seems unpromising. To live at the usual pace, to concentrate, to be interested, to enjoy what used to please - all this becomes difficult or even impossible for a depressed patient. Often there are thoughts of one's own guilt and uselessness. In addition, even in mild forms of depression, self-esteem and self-confidence may be reduced.

Sleep is disturbed in a depressed patient: either he is exhausted by insomnia and wakes up several hours earlier than usual, or, on the contrary, the duration of sleep can increase significantly. At the same time, in the morning, as a rule, the symptoms of depression intensify and often become almost unbearable.

In addition to the above manifestations, depression may be accompanied by changes in appetite - its increase or decrease - and corresponding changes in weight, as well as severe psychomotor retardation, increased anxiety, and a decrease in libido.

Depression diagnostics

Depression is rich in its manifestations, and against this background, the patient can independently suspect such an ailment. But only a qualified psychiatrist, psychotherapist can finally confirm or deny the presence of the disease and, accordingly, prescribe treatment. The doctor will help determine the amount of care needed by the patient, will diagnose. Sometimes a depressive state and a decrease in vital energy can be a symptom of a serious somatic disease, which is why timely diagnosis and targeted assistance are so important.

Causes of depression

A depressive disorder can occur when a person’s psyche and somatics are subjected to unbearable loads for him personally. Depression can be triggered by chronic stress, a severe physical illness, or a sudden precipitating factor such as the loss of a loved one. Scientists also talk about genetic variants of the causes of depression. In addition, it is possible that one environment of life (family, the habit of perceiving life in a depressive light) matters in the development of depression.

Does depression affect a person's overall health?

On the one hand, depression is a kind of adaptation reaction developed in the process of human evolution. Under certain conditions, it helps to maintain overall mental health and even survive. But in situations where a depressive disorder causes unbearable stress on the body, these stresses can “somatize”, i.e. cause disorders of various organs and systems of the body.

But even without somatization in such a state there is little pleasant: depression can affect the whole life, the formation of goals, the choice of a person in certain situations. The behavior of a person suffering from depression can become reckless, sometimes dangerous for himself and others.

Prevention of depression

No matter how surprising it may sound, it is necessary to start prevention of depression ... from childhood. Certain methods of education will help teach the child to correctly perceive and process information coming from outside, as well as develop adequate ways to respond to various life situations.

For adults, there are also some simple rules to reduce the risk of depressive disorder. All these rules are built on the banal and well-known principles of a healthy lifestyle:

Always get enough sleep! Try to go to bed at the same time, and do not forget to close the room from the light. The sleep hormone (melatonin) can only be produced in complete darkness.
Eat healthy food. Foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids can help prevent mood swings and restore emotional well-being.
Maintain an active lifestyle. They say movement is the best antidepressant. Physical exercise or walks in the fresh air give the body energy, maintain a good mood and maintain vitality.
Communicate more with positive and pleasant people. Good, pleasant communication will give positive emotions and energize.
Allow yourself to be "a little selfish." Take care of yourself, relax, take time for yourself. A drop of healthy selfishness will benefit any person.

Let's sum it up: how can you still distinguish depression from a bad mood?

In the event of the usual “bad mood”, you know exactly its cause: troubles in the family, problems at work, or just stepped on your foot in public transport and ruined your new shoes. Such a state normally will not last long: after the disappearance of the provoking factor, the settlement of difficulties, or simply after the passage of time, the mood returns to normal, and life will again be enjoyable. Depression, in turn, occurs, as a rule, for no particular reason, or the reaction to a provoking factor is delayed for an abnormally long period.

If you notice signs of depression in yourself, life has ceased to bring joy, the usual things do not give pleasure, you feel guilty about everything that happens around you, and there is simply no strength for life, do not delay contacting a specialist. Turning to a psychotherapist is not scary and not ashamed! In many cases, only a doctor is able to return a person to normal, and in some cases, even save a life.

Do not be afraid to ask for help, because the first step in the treatment of depression is awareness of your problem.
Bright and joyful life to you!

The material was prepared with the participation of the doctor of the highest qualification category, KMN, psychiatrist, psychotherapist of the Clinic "SMITRA" Koridze-Datunishvili Manana Nodaryevna.

symptoms, causes in men and women, remedies

Lack of vitality, unwillingness to get out of bed, bad mood for a long time, and even unwillingness to live are all signs of depression. Depression has a negative effect on the health and general well-being of a person. That is why it is so important to get medical help from a specialist in time.

How to determine the presence of depression?

Pathology can appear after experienced stressful situations. If there is no disorder, after the problem is resolved, a good mood returns to the person. But when the cause is eliminated, and apathy, depression and loss of strength do not leave the person, it is necessary to seek help from a specialist. It may also decrease performance.

You can determine the presence of depression on your own, but you should not self-medicate even at an early stage of development. This should be done by a doctor, since self-medication can only aggravate everything.

Depression in women is often postpartum, as their lives change dramatically, and sleepless nights add fatigue. This is where frustration and apathy come in.

When the pathology is in advanced form, then a person has the following symptoms of depression - not only a bad mood and impotence, but also persistent disorders of the nervous system. There are also symptoms such as: a significant decrease in self-esteem, disadaptation in society, despondency and loss of interest in any events.

In physiological terms, appetite changes, intimate needs and energy decrease, sleep and bowel function are disturbed (constipation, weakness, fatigue during physical and intellectual stress are observed), pain in the body (in the heart, in muscles, in the stomach area).

The patient shows signs of depression such as loss of interest in other people, a tendency to frequent solitude, refusal of entertainment, use of alcohol and psychotropic substances.

Mental signs of depression include difficulty in concentrating, concentrating, making decisions, slowness of thinking, a pessimistic view of the future with a lack of perspective and thoughts about the meaninglessness of one's existence, suicide attempts, due to their uselessness, helplessness, insignificance.

Causes of depression

The appearance of the disorder is not influenced by age category or social class. Most often, depression appears against the background of stressful negative situations, with constant failures - then a person falls into despair from the inability to somehow influence the course of events.

But in addition to the social factor, severe psychological trauma can also lead to the development of depression, for example: family breakup, death of a loved one, a serious illness that affects not only the patient himself, but also his relatives. In this case, depressions are referred to as reactive.

The likelihood of depression increases with changes in hormonal levels: during adolescence, after delivery, with the onset of menopause, and also in old age. It can affect the emotional and physical level.

Another factor is brain damage and somatic pathologies. Often depression affects patients who have had a stroke, suffering from a chronic lack of blood circulation in the brain, after a traumatic brain injury.

The causes of depression can manifest themselves as a result of the side effects of drugs (benzodiazepines, corticosteroids). Often this condition disappears on its own after the drug is discontinued.

Types of depression

Neurotic - people with low self-esteem, insecure, straightforward people often suffer. They constantly feel a sense of injustice, and apathy arises from this.
Clinical - bad mood, loss of energy, problems with appetite and sleep. Often there is a tendency to suicide. This clinical picture can last at least 2 weeks.
Vegetative - manifested by such signs as tachycardia, a drop in blood pressure, tinnitus.
Psychogenic - develops after severe psychological trauma - divorce, loss of a loved one, dismissal from work, betrayal, etc. Accompanied by mood swings, anxiety, excessive sensitivity.
Masked - often the disease manifests itself secretly. Apathy, solitude and a decrease in interest in life can only appear as negativity and fatigue accumulate.
Asthenic - the condition is manifested by fatigue, sleep disturbance, emotional imbalance due to accumulated difficulties, stress, physical and psychological stress.
Postpartum - usually occurs 10-14 days after delivery. A young mother shows an increased sense of excitement for the baby, and constant lack of sleep and fatigue worsen the situation even more. In addition, the hormonal background also affects the state of the mother.
Somatogenic - attacks occur due to disturbances in the endocrine system, the formation and growth of neoplasms, both benign and malignant.
Alcoholic - depression is accompanied by excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. The post-alcohol state is accompanied by an uncontrolled craving for alcohol and the growth of withdrawal syndrome when alcohol is refused.
Bipolar - the patient is changing euphoria depressive, manic disorder. But in the period between these phenomena, caused by various factors: stress, loss of means of popularity, etc., a person lives an ordinary life and does not show symptoms of the disease.

How does depression develop in stages?

First, the patient has a depressed state, which he himself attributes to fatigue, a hard working week, drinking alcohol and other reasons. At the same time, he wants to retire from others and at the same time is afraid to be alone.

Then the stage of acceptance arises: the awareness of the dangerous state comes, the problem worsens, the intensity of negative thoughts grows, the body and the immune system fail.

The third stage - in the absence of adequate therapy, the patient loses control over himself, aggression increases.

Diagnosis and treatment of depression

To identify the disease, experienced specialists use short questionnaires - screening tools to identify symptoms: anxiety, anhedonia (loss of pleasure from life), suicidal tendencies. Thanks to this, it is possible to determine whether the patient has chronic depression, symptoms and treatments for depression, what form and severity it is.

To fully understand the picture of the disease, the doctor needs to familiarize himself with the symptoms that indicate depression, and not another psychological disorder.

For the treatment of depression, you can contact the following specialists:

Psychiatrist - treatment of depression with hypnosis, drugs for acute mental pathologies - schizophrenia, mental retardation, epilepsy, as well as other less severe ailments - neurosis, depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, etc.
Psychotherapist - treatment is carried out through special therapy, which provides for explanations, conversations, searching for solutions to problems together with the patient.
Psychologist - counsels the patient, cannot prescribe medications and examinations. Clinical psychologists use modern test methods to identify problems that caused a psychological disorder.

The main directions of therapy in treatment are psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, social therapy.

A necessary condition for the effectiveness of treatment is cooperation and trust in the doctor. It is important to strictly follow the prescription of the therapy regimen, visit the doctor regularly, and give a detailed account of your condition.

Depression drugs

For the treatment of the disorder, antidepressants are used for anxious depression or when the pathology is accompanied by lethargy. Antidepressants are prescribed directly by a doctor and are not recommended for self-administration. The action of many antidepressants manifests itself two weeks after administration, their dosage for the patient is determined individually.

Learn more